Article handling apparatus



Feb. 12, 1946. D. H. MITCHELL I ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1943 lNl/ENTOA D. H. M/ TCHELL ATTORNEY mounted one upon each side of the supporting unit l8. 7

Considering the illustration in Fig. l, a pivot I block 40 is mounted in the adjacent channel 1 member l9 to pivotally support, at 50, the element 38. The element 48 is provided with an elongate aperture or slot 5|, with an offset portion 52 at 1 its free end providing apocket or recess 53 to receive a retaining screw 54, the latter being car ried by the element 34 and supporting a washer 55. When it is desirable to move the article into a vertical position, this may be accomplished by moving theinner frame with the article about the shaft 23; During this movement of the 111-.

positionwith respect to the true horizontal posilocatingelements or members 58. Considering first the locating elements 58, it will be understood that there are two such elements'supported bytriangular brackets 59, the latter beingsfixed to'the under surfaces ofthe channel members l9; by any suitable means such as welding. The elements-58are identical in structure and a descripboth elements.

tion' of the one illustrated in Fig. 1 will apply to 7, Considering now the element 58 of Fig; 1, it will be noted that a plurality of recesses 60 in'one surface thereof (provides locating portions, include I ing in each, companion cam surfaces Bl.

, recesses or locating positions are separately identified bythe central .or zero position andthe five,degree,-( ten degree (10?) and fifteen de-' gre '(l5)' locating positions .upon each side of the zero position. Hook-shaped portions .64 and 65 ous other structures (not shown) may be mounted. Due to the fact that, at the present time, the article or unit 42 is classified as secret under government regulation, its detailed structure cannot be defined and the affect of the apparatus thereon during its assembly cannot be defined. l

It is, therefore, necessary that the article or casing be held against accidental displacement. The

bands 31 are, therefore, passed about the article, and through the aid of the screws 39 and their wing. nuts Mitightened against the brackets 4|,

the article 42, is, firmly secured in a desired loca-,

tion onLthe-apparatus. If the apparatus should be moved from one position to another, it is importantthatwhenthe rod Til of the element thereof may be moved into any desired angular tion. This is accomplished'througha treadleactuated element indicated generally at'51, and

The

are located at the respective ends of the. locating recesses, to limit the'pos'sible movement of the unit, l8. with the article inQeither' direction. V

'I'heelement51.. includes a rod 19 carried by the upper ends of a plurality of angle members H and I 1 extending through apertures therein. Theangle members," are secured to altransverse member I iZby, suitable means, such 'aswelding, thus holduponthe sides] l and of the base Iii. Treadle portions 16,,s'ecured to the inner pair of angle members "H by suitable means such as welding, 1 5,113,101 theflgeneral contour illustrated in Fig. 1,

and have a transverse member 11 fixed-thereto to complete the 'treadle portion of. the element 51. Suitable means such'as a spring 19, having one 1 end fixed,.as at 89, to the element 51 and theother end fixed, .as' at 8|, to the base I I], normally urges the element 51 counterclockwise about the axis of'theshaitJB. r Considering now the operation of, the 'appae the apparatus except the retaining bands 31 and t theirrespective retaining screws ,39 are .in the position shown in the drawing, the bandsand screws :being moved tofone side to allow for'the positioning of an article 42 in place. Through the aid of pins 44 and'the locating elements 45, j

51 is in the recess of the zero position of the locating element 58, that the center line of the article be in a true; horizontal position? This may be brought about-through adjustment of" the screws 32. However, once this: location-has:been determined, it need not be checked thereafter for subsequent operations of the apparatus. During this'ad justment, of course, there is caused a vari? ation between the positions of the inner and outer frames of thesupporting unit 18-, about the, shaft 28. r r r '1- With the apparatus in the position --show.n let it be assumed that it is desirable to .tilt the appa:

, a short distance counterclockwise-aboutthe-shaft I 6 until the rod 10 is free of the recess fiqat the zero. position, afterwhich the,-element; 5'|'- may be moved about its pivot or shaft ti-through.

the aid of the treadle-1611. The'unit :18 with the article may then be moved clockwise until the recess so for theten degree (10);position registers with the rod 10, after which the treadle 5 may be released, allowing the forceof the spring TStomove the rod 10 into the recess-60-at this position, The companioncams 6|;of this recess cooperate with the rod .10 to automatically locate the unit; !8 at.the1desired.angle,- ,fiegardless-of whichcam surface the rod, engagesfirstg this; surface will cause the.rod to find its position,: in

engagement with the other companion cam:sur.- 7

face alsol -In following this: same procedure, either one of the positions above the zeroposition may be brought into registration -.with ,the rod in of the element ,51, theend. portion. Iflimit ing the clockwise movementof-the unit. l8 with the article, it beingladapted-v to. engageithemod Hi should, the operator, accidentally; release, the a unit is before ,itlis located in vthe desired. posi; i tion, .In a similar manner any one'of the ma; tions beneaththe zeropositionsmayflb, brought into registration with, thejrqd 1,0 to locate=the m t en pneioi yari dane'ular positions u te kwise .Of Phe, 'Z ero L or ,true 2, horizontal position. y

Aft rthe I it is desirable to remove it from the apparatus] r'atus,,let itbe assumed that the various parts of V the article is disposed in the position shown. The

m h e ed' i el cas n wh ichvarir this inovement the screws :54 moverupwardl the recesses 53,:where they the article may be movedjinto vertical position.

with the article against, accidental return me d es r man-t ea r the;

a aria t airanadai frame. The article may be released by loosening the wing nuts 40 a suitable distance to free the retaining screws 39 from their brackets 4| so that they, together with the retaining bands 31, may be moved free of the article. After the completed article has been removed, the inner frame may be returned to the horizontal position, where it will lie within the outer frame with the extended portions of the plates 24 and 25 resting upon the channel members I 9 of the outer frame, or where the plate 25 will rest upon the adjusting screws '32 of the outer frame. The apparatus is now ready to receive another article 42 and throughthe aid of the element 51 and the 10- cating member 58, this article may be adjusted into varied angular positions with respect to the base about the pivot or shaft l6.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article handling apparatus comprising a base, a unit for sup-porting an article, pivotal means connecting the unit to the base at an offcenter position adjacent the under side of the unit, a locating member rigidly secured to the underside of the unit at the longest portion thereof from the pivotal means and including recesses formed of angularly disposed cam surface, an

element pivotally carried by the base and having a projection receivable in any of the recesses and selectively guided therein singly by the respective cam surfaces to cooperate with the locating member, and the pivotal means to support the unit at varied angular positions relative to the base, means actuable to move the element away from the locating member, and means to normally urge the element toward the locating member.

2. An article handling apparatus comprising a base, a supporting unit having interfitting members, bearings at the upper extremity of the base, a shaft having its ends journaled in the bearings and extending laterally of the unit to pivotally connect one of the members to the base, means carried by the other member to support an article, a shaft parallel with the first mentioned shaft extending through the adjacent ends of the members to pivotally connect them for movementv of the article supporting member into a position parallel with-or at right angles to the base supported member, an arm pivotally carried by the base supported member and formed for connection with the article supporting member in either position, means cooperating with the arm to secure the article supporting member in either position, and means for locating the unit about its supporting shaft with the article in varied angular positions relative to the base.

DONALD H. MITCHELL. 

